Orthodontic pliers



Oct. 4, 1960 W. W. COON ORTHODONTIC PLIERS Filed Aug. 1, 1958 3 WILLIAM.w. coorv I ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4:, 1960 ORTHODONTIC PLIERS WilliamW. Coon, Vallejo, Calif.

Filed Aug. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 752,563

Claims. (Cl. 32-66) This invention relates to an improved dental tooland more particularly to orthodontic pliers readily usable withorthodontic appliances to facilitate the correction of irregularities ofthe teeth.

In dentistry, especially that phase directed to orthodontics, it iscommon to employ ligature wires and the like which may be wrapped aroundan orthodontic bracket or the like secured to a band mounted on a toothand then tied with a predetermined degree of tension within the mouth ofthe patient to, for example, secure an arch wire relative to the bracketand band. Since it is necessary to work in such a confined area, amanipulation of the wire, particularly tying and applying apredetermined tension to the wire, may of course become very difficultand uncertain. Generally a loop is formed in the wire for disposing itabout the edges of the bracket and arch wire after which tension may beapplied to the free ends of the loop to tighten it, then the free endsare twisted together and cut off. In accomplishing this operation aplier arrangement is normally used for grasping and applying tension tothe wire and also twisting the ends of the wire together.

For example it is known to employ a plier arrangement wherein the wireis passed over the ends of the jaws of the pliers and the free ends arewound around a head or post on the pliers to secure the wire as tensionis being applied. In addition, various other ways have been devised foranchoring the free ends of the wire but, to the best of my knowledge,all necessitate some positive manual securing operation, such as windingor. clamping. It has been found that this operation may cause muchdifliculty and uncertainty since the plier elements, including the wireand securing means, are preferably made compact. Also,

it is necessary to perform the securing operation in or near the mouthor the patient and at the same time to properly regulate the initialtension in the wire prior to tightening and thus the entire operationmay become very time consuming and tedious and in some instancesinaccurate.

Accordingly, the present invention has as its primary object to obviatetheforegoing ditficulties and disadvantages and in so doing so toprovide for cooperative securing elements which may be adapted anddisposed to loosely receive the ends of a ligature wire and tosemiautomatically and simultaneously tighten the free ends of the wireas the jaws of the pliers are moved to tighten the ligature wire, andwith additional movement of the jaws to permit easy release of the wire,and to accomplish the above in such a way as to eliminate winding orotherwise manually securing the free ends of the ligature wire.

It is another object to provide for a compact, improved plierarrangement for holding, tightening and releasing a ligature wire in ornear a confined working area and which may be so constructed andarranged as to provide for the application of a predetermined degree oftension to the wire.

It is a further object to provide for a set of slot members which may bearranged in combination with a pair of dental pliers in such a way as toallow loose positioning and release of the free ends of a ligature wireand, as the pliers are being manipulated to tighten the intermediatelength of the wire, are adapted to move in a direction to snugly engageand to impart further tension to the wire.

It is still a further objectto provide for a compact dental plierarrangement, reliable in operation, to provide for the rapid andpositive, semi-automatic securing of the free ends of a ligature wire,and further to permit the rapid release of the ends once the wire isdisposed in the desired position.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presentlyunderstood, the invention consists in general of certain novel featuresof construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter more fullydescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in accordance with the presentinvention and wherein there is further illustrated a first position forapplying a ligature wire about a bracket member;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 illustrating asecond position for securing the ligature wire about a bracket inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section view taken about the line 3-3 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the opposite side of a preferred formof the invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary section view of a slot elementforming a part of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6.

With more particular reference to the drawings, there is illustrated inFigures 1 to 6 an application of the present invention to an orthodonticplier arrangement 10 which may be broadly comprised of a pair of levermembers 11 and 12 interconnected at intermediate body sections 13 and 14and including gripping handles 15 extending rearwardly from the bodysections 13 and 14 and a pair of tightening jaws 16 tapering forwardlyfrom the intermediate body sections. Spaced rearwardly of the bodysections 13 and 14 and extending inwardly from the inner surfaces of thehandles are a pair of pins 17 which serve as abutments or stop membersto regulate the extent of inward movement of the handles 15. Definingthe extremity of each of the jaws 16 is a wire receiving tip or endportion 18 which may be of any conventional type and which is shown bentor flared outwardly and provided with a wedge-shaped, inclined groove ornotch 19 to receive and carry a ligature wire 20.

The lever members 11 and 12 are pivotally connected together about thebody sections 13 and 14- so as to permit limited, but free, movement ofthe jaws 16. For this purpose the body section 13 is formed of a pair ofspaced, circular flanges or plates 22 and the body section 14 is in turnmade up of a complementary plate 23, the plates 22 and 23 projectinglaterally from the inner surfaces of the respective levers with theplate 23 being insertable between the spaced plates 22. Each of theplates 22 and 23 is provided with centrally located openings 24 toreceive a pivotpin or screw 25 extending upwardly through the opening soas to interconnect the plates. In addition, to permit relative rotationof the plates about the pivot pin 25, the surface between the plates 22of the body section 13 is given a curved slotted configuration and theinner surface of the body section 14 on either side of the plate 23 isgiven a similar slotted configuration generally conforming to thelateral exterior surfaces of the respective plates.

A primary feature of the present invention is the way in which ends 21of the ligature wire 20 may be easily disposed and automatically securedin position so as to cooperate with the jaws 16 to tighten the wire 20.In orderto eliminate the necessity of winding or otherwise manuallysecuring the ends 21 prior to tightening the wire, there are providedcooperative securing means made up essentially of a set of grooved orslotted elements 27 and 28. Preferably the element 27 may be formed ofan outer ring or annular disk 30 extending upwardly from the surface ofthe body section 14 and provided with a pair of diametrically opposedguide slots 31 which are relatively deep'and extend vertically into thedisk from the top surface thereof. As shown, one side of the disk 30 isintegrally formed with the body section 14 with the remainder of thedisk projecting laterally from the body section 14 so as to lieinaxially spaced relation over the plate 23 and-with the projecting sideresting on the surface of the body section 13 whenthe levers 11 and 12are disposed in connected relation. The slots 31 are preferably disposedin general alignment with the length of the lever 12 with which the disk30 is integrally formed, and are wedge shaped and relatively wide at thetop surface to permit easy insertion of the ends 21.

In turn, the element 28 may be formed preferably of an inner, concentricdisk 33 provided with a threaded opening 34 for connection to the end ofthe pivot pin 25 and also includes a pair of diametrically opposedgripping slots 35 which extend vertically through the thickness of theinner disk 33 and to a depth approximately equal with the depth of theouter slots 31. The slots 35 in addition are wedge shaped and, althoughit will be evident that they may be dimensioned to the same approximatesize as the outer slots 31, it is preferred to make the slots 35 morenarrow so as to establish a more positive gripping action with the freeends 21. When connected to the pivot pin 25 the top surface of the innerdisk is substantially flush with the top surface of the outer disk 30andthe slots 35 are disposed in general alignment with the longitudinalaxis of the lever 11, the latter being accomplished by an index pin 36projecting upwardly from the uppermost plate '22 for insertion into anaperture 37 disposed on the under side of the inner disk 33. e

In assembling the levers 11 and 12 together with the pivot pin 25 andthe inner disk 34, the plates 22 may first be slipped into interlockingrelation with the plate 23 by means of the pivot pin 25. It will benoted that the under surface of the projecting side of the outer disk 30may be recessed as at 38 to permit easy passage of the index pin 36. Theinner disk 33 may then be connected to the pivot pin 25 with the indexpin 36 seated in the depressed portion 37. In this wa with the jaws inthe closed position shown in Figure l, the slots 35 are aligned with theslots 31 and together extend in a common direction generally parallel tothe length of the pliers. Of course, as the jaws are manually opened bysqueezing the handles 15, each pair of slots 31 and 35 will follow themovement of the levers 11 and 12 respectively so as to turn in oppositedirections. Accordingly, with the jaws closed and the slots aligned, theends 21 of the ligature wire 2i) may be led rearwardly from the tips 18,brought together, then loosely disposed across the slots. The outerslots 31 will serve to initially guide the ends into desired positionwithin the slots merely by pulling the wire against the beveled edges ofthe forward guide slots whereupon the ends will easily slip into placein engagement with the sides of the slots 31 and 35. Moreover, as shownin Figure 5, the inner slots 35 although preferably made more narrowthan the outer slots 31, are wedge shaped in order to accommodateseveral diameters of ligature wire.

In practice, the intermediate portion of the ligature wire 20 may eitherbe wrapped directly around a tooth and attached directly into a mainsupport or arch wire (not shown), or as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,the arch wire may be looped into engagement with slotted wings .49provided on a suitable bracket :1 50 as to secure an ar h wire 42 inposition against the bracket 41, all of which is well known in the art.To properly secure and tighten the ligature wire in position, the loopis first formed and guided through the slotted wings 40. The looselengths of wire leading away from the loop are then slipped into thenotches 19 of the pliers and the free ends 21 passed through the slots31 and 35 as shown in Figure 1. In this position the free ends, togetherwith the entire ligature wire, may be pulled by hand to the desiredinitial tension since they are loosely disposed in the slots. When thehandles 15 of the pliers are squeezed, as shown in Figure )2, the tips18 will move apart to tension the wire 20 and at the same time cause theslots 31 and 35 respectively to move in opposite directions so as tobend or hold the Wire in the annular space between the outer disk 30 andthe inner disk 32. With the ligature wire 20 thus locked and taut, thepliers may then be twisted several times to tighten, wind the wire andlock the same about the bracket 41. To release the wire from the'pliers,it is only necessary to return the jaws to the closed position as shownin Figure l and remove the ends 21 from the slots, after which the looseends may be cut off to the desired length. In this connection it is tobe noted that with the inner slots made narrower than the outer slots,the wire will continue to be pulled through the outer guide slots 31 andwill be tightly gripped by the inner slots 35 as it is bent, so as toapply increased tension to the wire as the jaws are being spread apart.Moreover, it will be seen that both the forward and rearward set ofinner and outer slots will cooperate for a double gripping action.

It will be apparent from the above that many variations may be madewithin the scope of the present invention, such as the levers may beconnected in crossed relation; other means for pivoting the levers maybe utilized; and of course the exact disposition and alignment of thecooperating slots may be varied. For instance, the slots 31 and 35 neednot be wedge shaped and may be of the same dimensions and still providethe necessary gripping action since the movement of the slots to bendthe wires between the closely spaced disks is primarily responsible forthe positive securing action obtained. At the same time, however, thewedge shaped slots may accommodate various sizes of wire and by formingthe inner slots of a smaller dimension than the outer slots it is alsopossible to apply a predetermined degree of tension on the ends of thewire in cooperation with the tightening action of the jaws, aspreviously explained.

It will accordingly be apparent from the foregoing description that acompact plier arrangement is provided which will establish a rapid andpositive means for anchoring the free ends of the ligature wire, whichmay be utilized to apply an increased predetermined tension to the wireas desired, yet at the same time permit easy release of the wire oncesecured in position. It is to be further understood that various changesin the construction and arrangement ofthe present invention may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

'What is claimed is:

1. Ina dental tool of the character described, a pair of lever memberspivotally connected together including handle means extending in onedirection. and jaws extending in the other direction providing ligaturere ceiving openings adjacent to the ends thereof, and cooperativesecuring means disposed on said tool to loosely receive the ends of theligature and to move in response to the movement of said jaws to tightlyengage the ends of the ligature as said jaws are being moved to tightenthe ligature.

2. In a dental tool of the character described, a pair of lever memberspivotally connected together including handles extending in onedirectionand jaws extending in the other direction providing ligature wirereceiving openings adjacent to the ends thereof, and cooperativesecuring elements disposed on said tool, said elements being soconstructed and arranged as to provide for laymg the end of the ligaturewire into loose engagement therewith and to move in relation to oneanother to tightly engage the ends of the wire as said jaws are beingmoved to tighten the intermediate length of the ligature wire.

3. In a dental tool of the character described, a pair of lever memberspivotally connected together including handles extending in onedirection and jaws extending in the other direction providing ligaturereceiving openngs adjacent to the ends thereof, and cooperative securngelements defining at least one pair of slots aligned 111 one position toloosely receive the ends of the ligature wire, said elements beingdisposed to move in response to the movement of said jaws in such a waythat said slots will operate to tightly engage the ends and tosimultaneously apply tension to the ligature wire as said jaws are beingmoved to tighten theligature.

4. In a dental tool of the character described, a pair of lever memberspivotally connected together including handles extending in onedirection and jaws extending in the other direction providing ligaturereceiving openings adjacent to the ends thereof, and a pair ofcooperative securing elements defining a series of slots aligned in afirst setting in a common direction generally parallel to the length ofsaid tool whereupon the free ends of the ligature wire may be looselyinserted into engagement with said slots, each of said elements beingarranged to rotate in response to the movement of said jaws whereuponthe slots of one element will move in a direction to hold the ends ofthe ligature wire in cooperation with the slots of the other element assaid jaws are being moved to apply tension to the intermediate length ofthe ligature wire.

5. In orthodontic pliers for inserting and locking a ligature wire, aplurality of slotted disk members arranged for rotation about a commonaxis, the slot portions on said disk members being normally aligned toloosely accommodate the ends of the ligature wire when the jaw portionsof said pliers are disposed to loosely carry the intermediate portion ofthe ligature wire, and the slot portions being further rotatable inopposite directions to grip the ends of the ligature wire againstrelease and to cooperate with the jaws to simultaneously apply tensionto the ligature wire.

6. In orthodontic pliers for inserting and locking a ligature wire in apredetermined position, a plurality of slotted, spaced concentric diskmembers arranged for rotation about a common axis defined by the pivotpoint of a pair of jaw members of said pliers, the slot portions on saiddisk members being normally disposed for loose insertion of the ends ofthe ligature wire when the jaws are disposed to loosely carry theintermediate portion of the ligature wire, and the slot portions turningin opposite directions in response to the movement of the jaws to bendthe ends of the ligature wire into locked position in the annular spacebetween said disk members as said jaws are moved to tighten the ligaturewire.

7. In a dental tool for inserting and semi-automatically locking aligature wire wherein there is provided a pair of levers includinghandles extending in one direction and jaw members extending in theother direction having notched ends for carrying a length of ligaturewire, the combination therewith comprising means including a pivot pinfor pivotally connecting said levers together intermediate said handlesand said jaws, an outer ring associated with one lever provided withdiametrically opposed slots, an inner concentric ring associated withthe other lever provided with diametrically opposed slots, said slotsbeing aligned to provide for slipping the ends of the ligature wirethereacross when said jaws are disposed to loosely carry theintermediate portion of the ligature wire, and said inner slots beingmovable in relation to said outer slots to hold and pull the ligaturewire when said jaws are moved for tightening the ligature wire.

8. In a dental tool for inserting and locking the free ends of aligature wire wherein there is provided a pair of levers includinghandles extending in one direction and jaw members extending in theother direction having notched ends for carrying a length of ligaturewire, the combination therewith comprising means including a pivot pinfor pivotally connecting said levers together intermediate said handlesand said jaws, an outer ring associated with one lever having a pair ofdiametrically opposed radial guide slots, an inner concentric ringassociated with the other lever having a pair of diametrically opposedradial gripping slots, said slots being aligned in a direction generallyparallel to the length of said pliers for slipping the ends of theligature wire thereacross when said jaws are disposed to loosely carrythe intermediate portion of the ligature wire, and said inner slotsbeing movable in relation to said outer slots to hold and pull theligature wire when said jaws are moved for tightening the ligature wire.

9. In a dental tool for inserting and locking the free ends of aligature wire wherein there is provided a pair of levers includinghandles extending in one direction and jaw members extending in theother direction having notched ends for carrying a length of ligaturewire, the combination therewith comprising means including a pivot pinfor pivotally connecting said levers together intermediate said handlesand said jaws, an outer ring associated with one lever havingdiametrically opposed radial slots, an inner disk disposed in concentricspaced relation within said outer ring having diametrically opposedradial slots, said slots being wedge shaped and aligned in one positionfor slipping the ends of the ligature Wire thereacross when said jawsare disposed to loosely carry the intermediate portion of the ligaturewire, and said inner slots being movable in relation to said outer slotsto bend the free ends of the ligature wire into the annular space formedbetween said disk and said ring so as to lock the ligature Wire as saidjaws are being moved for tightening the wire.

10. The dental tool according to claim 9 wherein said inner disk andsaid outer ring are arranged for movement about said pivot pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

